Assalam alaikum,

Is there a difference between the prayer of a man and that of a woman? What is the difference?

Barak Allahu fikum.

In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful,

All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessing be upon the Messenger of Allah, upon his household, his companions and those who have followed him. To proceed:

There is no difference between a man and a woman in the essential obligation of the prayer, since both of them are addressed by the Saying of Allah Most High (interpretation of the meaning):

{And offer prayers perfectly and give the Zakat…}

[Surat al-Baqarah 2:43]

They are also the same in terms of the reward for the prayer, according to the Saying of the Most High (interpretation of the meaning):

{Never will I allow to be lost the work of any of you, be he male or female. You are (members) one of another…}

[Surat Aal Imran 3:195]

However, there are differences between men and women in the constancy of this obligation and in some of the forms of performing the prayer, the most important of which are:

1)    Allah has unburdened the woman of the prayer during her monthly menstrual period, discharging from her the obligation of both performance and compensation, in order to ease her situation and be merciful to her.

2)    A woman does not lead men in prayer; she only leads the prayer for other women, standing in their midst.

3)    During the prostration, or sujood, men hold their elbows away from their sides and raise their bellies from their thighs, whereas women are to draw all body parts in close to their bodies, according to some of the People of Knowledge, because this is more concealing for her when she makes sujood, although some fiqh scholars hold that a woman’s prayer is no different than that of a man.

4)    The woman’s `awrah in the prayer is her entire body except for the hands and face, whereas the man’s `awrah is only between the navel and the knees.

5)    If a woman notices the imam making a mistake during the prayer, she should clap, but a man should say, “Subhan Allah!” This is according to the saying of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) to that effect. He said: “Clapping is for women and saying ‘Subhan Allah!’ is for men.” 

6)    Men recite aloud in the audible prayers, such as Fajr, Maghrib and Isha, raising his voice in the recitation. Women, on the other hand, do not raise their voices in the presence of non-mahram men. If only her mahram relatives or other women are present, she may recite aloud in the audible prayers and whisper in the subdued prayers as men do.

7)    If men are praying in congregation, the best rows for the men are those at the front and the least of them in degree of reward are the ones in the back, whereas the best rows for women are those in the back and the least in reward are those in the front. Note also that men stand in the front, then come the youngsters, and then come the women.

And Allah Almighty is the Most High, and He knows best.